The news is not getting easier for Grey Bruce Health Services.
The South West Local Health Integration Network has rejected the latest draft budget from the Owen Sound based hospital organization.
The South West LHIN has extended the budget negotiations until the end of May — along with 3 other Southern Ontario hospitals.
The budgets of 16 other hospitals have been approved for the next two years.
In Grey and Bruce, that includes the South Bruce Grey Health Centre and the Hanover and District hospital.
In the Goderich area, that includes the Alexandra and General Marine Hospital in Goderich as well as the hospitals in Clinton, Exeter, Stratford, Seaforth and Wingham.
Senior Director of Performance Michael Barrett says 16 hospitals met their criteria and finished with a balanced budget until 2010.
Barrett says each of the 16 hospitals worked hard to find efficiencies to provide their services and programs with the funding they received.
Barrett wouldn’t comment on the problems in finalizing the budget at Grey Bruce Health Services — he says each negotiation is confidential.
But he is optimistic the budget will be balanced and approved by May 28th.
Barrett notes the process has been a long one as they started last June.
He adds hospitals will now be required to work on budgets two years at a time to improve planning and sustainability.
